Synthetic sapphire can be created in many ways, one of which is called the Czochralski method. During this process, the various elements that make up sapphire are melted in a platinum crucible. A small gem crystal (called a seed) attached to a rod is then dipped into the melt and slowly pulled away as the crystal grows around the seed. For this reason, the Czochralski method is also known as crystal pulling. Synthetic gems have the same chemical, optical, and physical properties of their natural counterparts, but are a more cost-effective alternative to a natural gem.

Colors

Light Pink, Pink, Reddish Purple, Purple

Sapphire-synthetic-czochralski classification

CommonName

Sapphire (Synthetic Czochralski)

Species

Corundum

Variety

Pulled Synthetic Fancy Sapphire

Colors

Light Pink, Pink, Reddish Purple, Purple

AlternateNames

Lab Created Fancy Sapphire

GemstoneGroups

KeySeparations

magnification and RI, birefringence, pleochroism

ClassificationComments

Sapphire-synthetic-czochralski chemistry & crystallography

ChemicalName

aluminum oxide

ChemicalFormula

Al2O3

Synthesis

Czochralski pulled

CrystalSystem

Trigonal

ChemistryClassification

Oxide

Nature

Synthetic

Crystallinity

Crystalline

ChemistryComments

Sapphire-synthetic-czochralski optical properties

Transparency

Transparent - Opaque

Dispersion

Strength: moderate fire Value: 0.018

OpticalComments

RefractiveIndex

1.762-1.77 Tolerance:(+0.009/-0.005)

Birefringence

0.008-0.01

OpticCharacter

Uniaxial

OpticSign

Negative

PolariscopeReaction

Doubly Refractive (DR)

Fluorescence

SWUV: Variable LWUV: Variable

CCFReaction

Pink: weak red

Pleochroism

Dichroic, moderate, varying shades of body color

Sapphire-synthetic-czochralski characteristic physical properties

Hardness

9

CharacteristicComments

Streak

White

SpecificGravity

4.1-3.95 Typical:4

Toughness

Excellent

Inclusions

Stones are almost always inclusion free. If internal characteristics are present they are gas bubbles, curved striae that is hard to see and smoke-like swirling veil-like inclusions.